Dispensing device



Aug. 28, 1928.

L. ROSSL DISPENSING DEVICE i e y 1'7, 1927 '2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR ATTORNEY L. ROSS! DISPENSING DEVICE Filed May 17, 1927 2 Sh 'Qs-Sheet 2 f INVENTOR li TNES ES j Zfow an 1/ BY Wd 7 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 28, 1928.

UNITED STATES LOUIS E0881, NEW YOBK,'N.

Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONEHALF TO FRANK A. SANFORD,

OFNEW YORK, N. Y.

DISPENSING DEVICE.

Application filed May 17,

This invention relates to dispensing devices and has particular reference to a devlce which is especially desi ned for dispensing toothpicks although it 1s to be understood that the same is not necessarily limited to this use.

The invention aims to provide a means for eliminating the unsanitary practice of placin toothpicks in restaurants and other pu lic eating places, in an open container where the patrons inadvertently handle toothpicks other than the ones which they take for their own use. This practiceis also open to the objection that the patrons take a greater quantity of toothpicks than neces sary, thereby subjecting the proprietor to an unwarranted expense. 7

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a dispensing device of the character set forth which includes a positive discharging means whiclninsures the dispensing of a predetermined number of the articles to be dispensed without failure.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of mcans'for agitating the articles in the hop or or container therefor, to insure the posltlve feeding of the article to the discharging means.

Other objects reside in the comparatlve simplicity of construction of the device, the economy with which the same may be produced, and the general efficiency derived therefrom.

With the above recited and other objects in view, reference is bad to the following description and accompanying drawings m which there is exhibite one example or embodiment of the invention, while the ap pended claims define the actual scope of the lnvention.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the dispensing device;

Fig. 2 1s a vertical sectional view thereof taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the parts in discharging position;

Fig. 3 is a similar view with the parts shown in feeding position;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken ap roximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

' eferring to the drawings by characters of reference, designates a supporting frame which includes a pair of laterally spaced side plates 11 between which a hopper 12 is 1927. Serial No. 192;o59.

positioned, the hopper having slotted cars 13 through which and the side plates 11 of the frame, bolts 14 extend for 'adjustably associating the hopper with the frame. The side plates 11 of the frame are provided on the inner faces thereof, with inwardly pro jecting longitudinal upper and lower guide flanges 15 and 16, said guide flanges being preferably inclined upwardly from the front to the rear of the frame. The hopper 12 is provided with an enlarged upper open end and with front and rear downwardly converging walls 17 and 18 defining at the lower end a restricted discharge opening 19. A valve element preferably in the nature of a plate 20, is mounted between the guides 15 and 16 of each side frame element 11 for fore-and-aft sliding movement. The slidable valve plate 20 includes a section 21 which is hingedly connected by a hinge 22 to the forward end of the main section 21 for downward swinging movement. The lower guide flanges 16 are provided with downturned forward ends 23 to permit of the downward swinging movement of the section 21 when the valve plate is moved to the forward limit of its movement. The sections 20 and 21 at their juncture have rabbeted upper corners 24 and 25 which define together when the sections are in longitudinal alinement, a receiving pocket or groove registrable with the discharge opening 19 of the hopper when the valve sections are moved in a rearward direction to the limit of their movement, whereby the articles in the hopper to be dispensed are received from the hopper through the discharge opening or end. While the section 21 may swing down gravitationally, a coiled contractile spring 26 has its opposite ends respectively connected to the under sides of the sections 20 and 21 to insure the downward swinging movement of the section 21. The under side of the main section 20 of the valve plate has depending therefrom a pin 27 to which'a pair of coiled contractile springs 28 are connected at one end, the opposite ends being connected to pins 29 depending from the forward portion of the frame 10. The springs 28 function to normally move the slide valve in a forward direction. The hopper is adjusted so that its lower discharge end is slightly spaced directly above the upper surface of the valve plate whereby the upper surface of the valve plate in the normal position,

with a finger key 39. "lhe roller engaging with the pin 27 is adapted upon (lQPXQSSZOIl ofthe finger he 39 to move thevalve plate rearwnrdly. T 1e initial rearward move ment of the valve plate causes the section 21 riding upthe doivnturned ends 23 of the lower guides 16, to he swung to a position in longitudinal alinelnent with theinain body portion so that the rabbeted corners 24 and 25 define a receiving pocket. Continued rearward movement is: arrested by the enga cinent of the pin 27 with the shoulder deiined by the frame '10, at which point the receivingpocket is disposed in registry with the hopper outlet-opening 19 so that 'one or a predetermined number; in the present instance two, of the toothpicks or other articles A which are to be vended, may gravitate into the receiving pocket. When the key is released, it is obvious that the springs 29 will project the valve plate forwardly until the pin contacts with the stop element ll also defined by the frame 10, at which point the section 21 will have moved over the downturned' forward ends 2-3 of the lower guides 16 and by gravity and the action of the spring 26 will have been swung to a substantially night-angular position open ng the pocket and discharging the toothpicks or articles A therefirornl The device on machine will preferably includea base 42 to which the frame 10 is attached and a housing'or casing 43 carried by the base for enclosing the frame, hopper and mechanism. The housing will have a removable cover 44 and willrfurther be providedwith a chute ortrough 45 in the lower portion of its flange Wall. for receiving. and gravitationally disposing the toothpicks or articles A exteriorlly of the housing when they are dischdrged from the valve plate and received thereby. The front wall: oil thehousing 43 will: alsowbe provided with a vertical slot 54 through which. the nia-nipuli'iting lever 38 extends and from which the finger key is exposedi.

In order: to provide means for facilitat ing the: feeding and preventing clogging of the hoothpicksor articles A in the hop er, an agitator plate 16 is mounted Within the hopper preferably to slideon' the front wall 1:7; The said agitator plate is'provided with a serrated inner face 47- and is suitably connected with a cross bar 48 disposed exteriorly of the front wall 17 by means of conn i g pins or i e s 19 extending through slots 50 in the front wall 17. The cross bar 48 has journaled on its opposite ends, rollers 51 which are engaged by the under cam faces 52 of the arcuate terminals 36 of the side arms 81 of the U-shaped lever 30. In operation, downward and forward movement of the terminals 36 causes the undercam surfaces 52 to exert a downward prcssureon the agitator plate 46. Four contractile sprin s 53 are connected respectively at their opposite ends to the cross bar 48 and the upper end of the hopper for moving the agitator plate 46 upwardly when the finger grip and mani nlating lever 48 are released; That is claimed is': l. A dispensing device including a hopper, a valveelement having a rccclvin pocket registrable with the discharge end of the hopper upon movement of: the valve element in one direction for receiving from the hopper through the discharge end, an"

articleto be vended, 0116111188115 co-operating with the valve element upon movement in an opposite direction for effecting a wide 0 wening of the poc'kctto cause a discharge 0 the contents. v

2; A dispensing device including a hopper, a valve element: having a receiving pocket registrable withthe discharge end of the hopper upon movement oi? the valve element,

in one direction for receiving from the hopper through the-dischargoend, an article to he vended, and means co operating with the valve element 11 Jon movement in an opposite direct-ion for e acting a wide opening or the pocket to cause a discharge of the contents; in combination with means in the hopper for agitating and positively feeding articles through the discharge end when the valve element pocket registers therewith.

- 3. A dispensing device inchlding a hopper having a discharge end, a valve element; having sections defining a receiving pocket registrablewith said discharge end upon move ment of the valve element in one direction for receiving from the hopper througlrthe discharge end'an article as. 'be vcndcd, and means co-operating with the valve pocketdefining sections upon movement of the valve element in; an'opposite direction, for effecting relative separation of said sections to openthe pocket widely for causing a posi tive discharge of the contents. i

t. A dispensing device including a hopper having a discharge end, a slid'alilc valve plate havinghingedly' connected sections delining a receiving pocket pegistrahle with said discharge end upon movement of the valve element in one direction for receiving from the. hopper through the discharge end anarbiole to be vend'ed', and means co-operlie ating with the valve ocket-defining sections upon movement of t e valve element in an opposite direction, for effecting relative separation of said sections to open the pocket widely for causing a gravitational discharge of the contents.

5. A dispensing device including a hopper having a lower discharge end, a slide plate having an end section hinged for downward swinging movement, a guide over which the plate is slidable, said guide having downturned ends, the hingedly connected ends of the hinged section and slide plate having rabbeted corners defining when the same are in alinement and under the discharge end of the hopper, a receiving pocket for the reception of a predetermined number of articles from the hopper and adapted when the slide plate is shifted to the downturned end of the guide to separate the rabbeted corners for opening the pocket to positively efiect the discharge of the articles contained in said ocket.

6. A ispensing device including a hopper having a lower discharge end, a slide plate having an end section hinged for downward swinging movement, a guide over which the plate is slidable, said uide having downturned ends, the hingedly connected ends of the hinged section and slide plate having rabbeted corners defininr when the same are in alinem'ent and under the discharge end of the hopper, a receiving pocket for the reception of a predetermine' number of articles from the hopper and adapted when the slide plate is shifted to the downturned end of the guide to separate the rabbeted corners for opening the pocket to positively effect the discharge of the articles contained in said pocket, and an agitator plate slidably mounted within and on one of the walls of the hopper for positively feeding the articles through the discharge end of the hopper into the slide plate pocket.

7. A dispensing device includin a hopper having a lower discharge on a slide plate having an end section hinged for downward swinging movement, a guide over which the plate is slidable, said guide having downturned ends, the hinged connected ends of the hinged sections and slide plate having rabbeted corners defining when the same are in alinement and under the discharge end of the hopper, a receiving pocket for the reception of a predetermined number of articles from the hopper and adapted when the slide plate is shifted to the downturned end of the guide to separate the rabbeted corners for opening the pocket to positively efiect the discharge of the articles contalned in said pocket, an agitator plate slidably mounted within and on one of the walls of the hopper for positively feeding the articles through the discharge end of the hopper into the slide plate pocket, and a common actuating means for the slide plate and agitator plate.

8. In a dispensing device including a hop per having a lower discharge end, a feed plate underlying said discharge end and normally closing the same, said feed plate having a groove adapted upon shifting of the plate to register with the hopper at the discharge end, to receive from the hopper an article to be vcnded, the said feed plate being split along a line coincident with a groove to provide a plate section, a hinged connection between said plate section and the re mainder of the feed plate permitting downward swinging movement of said section, and a guide "for said plate having a downturned end coacting with said hinged section to permit downward swinging mov'ement thereof for efiecting a wide opening of the groove to insure a positive discharge of the articles received from the hopper.

LOUIS ROSSI. 

